Spanish Network television Telemundo recently announced that they will now begin to use the term “climate emergency” instead of “climate change” or “global warming” as part of a process of updating its terminology for covering environmental issues.

According to a media release received by MNI Media, the decision by Telemundo makes them the first Spanish-language news organization in the United States to incorporate more accurate scientific terminology into its environmental reporting.

“The use of clear and accurate language in covering critical subjects such as the climate emergency is not merely an option for journalists; it is their duty,” said Luis Fernández, Telemundo’s Executive Vice President of Network News.

He further went on to state; “The scientific community and linguistics experts agree that the world is facing a ‘climate emergency.’ Terms such as ‘global warming’ and ‘climate change’ do not fully reflect this reality, and at Noticias Telemundo we are true to our commitment to tell things as they are.”

Accordingly, MNI Media understands that other leading media outlets to include Britain’s The Guardian newspaper and the Spanish news agency EFE, as well as institutions committed to the accurate use of language, such as Fundación Fundeú BBVA, have introduced similar changes in an effort to improve their coverage of issues affecting the environment.

In September 2018, Telemundo announced the creation of “Noticias Telemundo Planeta Tierra,” the only reporting division on US Spanish-language television devoted exclusively to reporting on the environment led by Emmy Award winning journalist Vanessa Hauc.